Author's Note: We're back to checking in on Japan and 2P!Japan. I admit that I was a bit distracted when I was writing this. It's not as good as I want it to be, but here we are. I just felt that we had to come here and I did the best I could. It is what it is. I am thinking about expanding the season. I haven't done that in years. I feel like there is so much more that I want to add in Ghosts of Wonderland. Ending at the first full week of February isn't going to cut it. I think the season will end the last week of February. I will see how my mood feels. At the moment, I already know what I want to do for this fic next week. For now, enjoy this week's match.

Match Twenty-Three: Gumyouchou:

While this was going on, Kiku, Kuro, and the Mirror Kiku were getting closer to the truth. However, there might be some problems creeping up on their backs. It could be something to do with what is going on in Ikebukuro. There's also something else at play. Only Johann and Kuro can see the trees through this forest of a Wasteland.

Come, let us see what is going on with their progress.

Kiku

Tap. Tap. Tap.

"Hello? Is anybody out there? Can you hear me? Hello? Hello?"

Surprisingly, he was still alive. Kiku didn't know how that was even possible. But where was he? It was so dark that couldn't see a thing. There was a chill on where his skin should be. Wait… cold? So it was dark and cold here. Where was here?

"I want to go home."

But would home still be there?

The Japanese man had thought about that while falling through the darkness. He tried in vain to push that thought out of his head.

"No! I can't think like that! I have to get out of here!"

Kiku thought he was going to choke. When did the air get so heavy in here? His eyes began to water. It looked the same in direction.

"I want to go home."

This is your home now.

Kiku shook his head. The Japanese man started backing away.

No… That couldn't be real.

Another cold chill ran through his body. Kiku's eyes grew wide. This time, it felt like his spine went stiff. The cold sank into his bones. His body could barely move. Invisible airy fingers were crushing on his windpipe. He started gasping for air. A loud ringing filled his ears along with another sound.

Crack. Crack. Crack.

His body bent forward. The man's nose barely touched the ground. His arms bent out. Each bone snapped louder as the sensation moved downward. Kiku felt his legs stiffen up. His fingers curled and went stiff.

What's… What's happening to me?

Snap! Snap! Snap!

The Japanese man couldn't move. His vision became blurry. Cracks all over his body made him dizzy. Kiku ended up tilting over and falling to the ground.

His heart pounded against his chest as he sank further into the darkness. He felt himself sinking back into the cold, dark somewhere. Only sound remained in his ear.

Shhh. Shhh. Shhh.

And then he was gone.

Kuro

He already knew what was coming next. It was just a matter of getting there. Kuro went over the maze in his head. There was one exit and four rooms where the guests were supposed to meet up. The corrupt Japanese man smirked to himself.

Kuro chose his course of action hours ago. It was just a matter of waiting. He had the patience to do so. However, the maze seemed to want to test that patience.

At least his wife wasn't with him. He didn't need her by his side all the time. Yet, she didn't get that through her head. Kuro frowned as he pushed that thought out of his head. The corrupt Japanese man remembered something else.

Oh yeah.

Christmas is coming tomorrow. Kuro couldn't help but smile. If he was right, the grand finale should be coming up once everyone was in place. The other countries should be making their way there by now. Some of them should already be there.

Kuro took out his pocket watch and looked at it. Why did he still have this? Looked nice he supposed? That didn't matter as he got distracted by something else that crossed his mind.

"I'm alone here," he said to himself. Kuro chuckled to himself before he got serious. Enough with the jokes. He knew where he needed to go. The Japanese man stretched his neck from side to side. He shook out his limbs for good measure.

"Might as well get this over with," he said to himself. Kuro drew out his katana and marched down the hall. He whistled an old army tune along the way.

Mirror Kiku

It's been so easy to move around out here. He knew what he should do next. He could hear the voices inside the house calling out to him. The entity wearing Kiku's face took a listen. He already knew the truth. The entity smirked to himself.

Sena managed to get away from him while he wasn't looking but he wasn't upset over it. He was going to get her back later. Right now, the entity knew where he needed to go. He closed his eyes and sniffed the air.

"Mmm." The soft humming filled his ears. "Kiku" saw his plans form in his brain as he began to waltz around in the hall. The entity beat his fist against his chest as he hummed. "Kiku" saw exactly where he needed to go. Would it be surprising to say that he danced his way there? No? Well that happened.

"Kiku" couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next.

What about the women? How are they fairing compared to the men? Well, we could go and check in on Sena and Kumiko.

But first let's see what's over here…